How to Extinguish a Battery Fire

2019-03-13 11:34:34

After the explosion of an iPhone inside an Apple Store, resulting in a few
minor injuries, you might be wondering “Oh shit, how do I stop my
smartphone/laptop/robot dog from burning my house down?” Instead of running for
dear life, or dousing your device with spring water, here are the steps you
should follow to properly extinguish a battery-related fire (and why you should
save that Pellegrino as a last resort).

Smartphone Fire? Unplug It First

A smartphone battery fire is only made worse if that smartphone is drawing
on another power source while it burns. When your battery starts to hiss or
bulge, be sure to unplug it from whatever power source it’s connected to before
you turn your attention to extinguishing.

Start With a Fire Extinguisher

Safety first means being prepared for emergencies like fires, caused by
your smartphone’s self-immolating battery or otherwise. That means you’ll need a
fire extinguisher, so add one to your shopping list. In terms of fire
extinguishers, you should have one designed to put out Class B and Class C
fires. Class B fires involve flammable liquids and gases, while Class C fires
involve electrical equipment like motors and batteries. Your standard fire
extinguisher, costing anywhere from $35 to $80, should be able to handle Class
A, B, and C fires.

There are a variety of extinguishers available, but searching for a Class
ABC extinguisher will yield one appropriate for dowsing your new Pixel 2. If
you’re on a budget, you can snag smaller fire suppression canisters that are
both cheaper (anywhere from $20 to $40) and smaller than a standard fire
extinguisher.

Class D fire extinguishers are also available, but are designed to
extinguish fires involving combustible metals. While you can certainly use one
to put out your smartphone, a class D fire extinguisher’s high price tag might
put it a bit out of your reach, so don’t bother spending the hundreds of dollars
required to get one.

Water or Sand Works in a Pinch

Thanks to the chemical composition of smartphones powered by lithium
batteries, there is always the chance that pouring water on a smartphone could
cause a chemical reaction between the H2O and lithium metal, turning that
hydrogen into fuel for the fire. Fortunately, most smartphone batteries have
such little lithium the risk is pretty negligible.

Should you find yourself dealing with a smartphone fire armed only with a
six-pack of seltzer, feel free to apply it liberally, and drown your smartphone
until no more smoke is visible. Needless to say, your phone is toast. You can
dispose of your charred battery by searching for a battery disposal location
near you. If your iPhone decides to blow up at the beach, you can also cover it
in sand or other non-flammable smothering agent like dirt. As with most things
that burn, be sure to avoid inhaling the fumes from a smoking battery, as
they’re toxic, carcinogenic, and just plain gross.